Who Was MARIE CURIE ?
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| Marie Curie |
Marie Curie was a Polish-born French scientist who made pioneering contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry. She was born Marie Sklodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. Her parents were both teachers and encouraged her to pursue her education. When Marie was eleven years old, her mother died of tuberculosis, and Marie was forced to take on responsibilities at home while continuing her studies. Despite these challenges, she excelled academically and graduated top of her class from high school in 1883.
After completing her high school education, Marie was unable to pursue a university degree in Poland because the universities did not admit women. She therefore decided to study abroad and in 1891, she moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. While studying in Paris, Marie worked as a tutor and a governess to support herself financially. She also met and fell in love with Pierre Curie, a fellow scientist who would later become her husband.
Marie earned her degree in physics in 1893 and a degree in mathematics in 1894. She then began working as a research assistant to Pierre, who was a professor of physics at the Sorbonne. Together, they conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, a term that Marie herself coined. In 1898, they discovered two new elements: polonium, which Marie named after her native Poland, and radium. They also developed a theory to explain the phenomenon of radioactivity, which they published in their 1903 book, "Radioactive Substances."
In 1903, Marie became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, which she shared with Pierre and another scientist for their work on radioactivity. In 1911, she received a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for her work on radium and polonium.
Throughout her career, Marie was a tireless advocate for the advancement of science and education. She was also a strong believer in the importance of public outreach and regularly gave lectures on her research to both scientific and lay audiences. In addition to her research and teaching, Marie also served as the first woman to be appointed to the faculty at the Sorbonne and later became the first woman to be elected to the French Academy of Sciences.
Marie Curie died on July 4, 1934, at the age of 66, from complications related to her exposure to radiation. Despite the risks she faced in her work, her contributions to science have had a lasting impact and she remains one of the most renowned scientists in history.
